Evaluation
The SC EPSCoR/IDeA State Committee and Office fully endorse implementation of an integrated multi-year evaluation plan to measure progress toward the goals and objectives of actively funded programs. T. Scott Little, PhD, is certified in Evaluation Practices by the The Evaluators Institute (TEI), and has extensive experience evaluating NSF RII, NIH INBRE, NSF HBCU-UP and other federal programs. Dr. Little is assisted by Gray H. Ladd, Project Assistant for Evaluation. Mr. Ladd has extensive training in the use of statistical analysis software, including Statistical Profiles for the Social Sciences (SPSS).
SC EPSCoR/IDeA collects longitudinal data with the expectation that many achievements occur after the award period. Process evaluation assesses program implementations and helps identify barriers to meeting stated objectives. Outcome evaluation assesses the long term effectiveness of the programs. Data is obtained through participant observation, surveys and other instruments.
Resources and Tools
The SC EPSCoR/IDeA staff maintains quantitative and qualitative data in mainstream statistical and analytical software packages. Mixed method analysis yields data mined to assess progress toward achieving delineated goals and objectives, and guides implementation of research and education activities.
Statistical Profiles for the Social Sciences (SPSS)
is a software package with complex data management and analysis capabilities
as well as presentation and reporting tools. The SC EPSCoR/IDeA
dataset includes variables for quantitative measures of research
productivity (e.g., proposal submissions and awards, publications,
presentations, patents and licenses).
Zarca Interactive is an online survey module
that enables design, collection and analysis of needs assessment and other
large scale participant surveys, as well as outreach and other project
progress reports. Data collected in Zarca can be exported directly to
SPSS.
ATLAS.ti, a leading qualitative data analysis
software package, is currently being implemented into SC EPSCoR/IDeA's
program evaluation.
External Evaluation
INBRE External Advisory Committee
The INBRE EAC meets annually to review INBRE program accomplishments and strategic
goals.
Science and Technology Statistics for South Carolina
NSF Survey of State Agency R&D Expenditures
South Carolina ranked 13th in the nation in a May 2008 NSF briefing on state
agency R&D expenditures, which places our state above all other EPSCoR
and IDeA jurisdictions in this regard. Specific numbers for South Carolina can be
found in Table 3 of the briefing.
2008 National Science Board Science and Engineering Indicators for South Carolina
2007 Federal R&D Funding for South Carolina